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Search Global Air Quality Laws
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UN regional group
- African Group
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Year
Ambient Air Quality Standards
- In a legislative or legislatively empowered instrument
Responsibility for air quality standards
- National government
- State/provincial government
- Local government
- Shared responsibility
Indoor Air Quality Standards
- Yes
Type of instrument
- Primary legislation
- Other primary legislation
- Secondary legislation
- Policy linked to the legislative framework
- More than one
Nature of legal obligations
- Duty to meet AAQS (Binding legislative obligation on the state)
- Duty to take BPM to meet standard
- Escalating duty to take action (if AQ worsens)
- Duty to report to public authority
- Duty to plan for achieving AAQS
- Emergency planning requirements for dangerous AQ levels
Exceedances
- Generally allowed exceedances
- Other allowed exceedances (emergency reasons/natural events)
Compliance with WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2005)
-
PM2.5 (10 μg/m3 annual mean 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- PM10 (50 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Ozone (100 μg/m3 8-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (40 μg/m3 annual mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- NO2 (200 μg/m3 1-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (20 μg/m3 24-hour mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- SO2 (500 μg/m3 10-minute mean)
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.- Newly acknowledged pollutants
The WHO Air quality guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants developed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987. Since then, several updated versions have appeared. This toolkit currently assesses countries against the 2005 guideline values (see here). The guidelines were updated more recently in 2021 (see here) and the legislation and policies presented in this toolkit will in the future be reassessed against these updated values.Legal requirement to monitor
Procedural and substantive rights
- Public right to air quality data (including general right to environmental information)
- Legal right to participate in setting AAQS in legislation
- Legal right to participate in devising air quality plans or actions in legislation
- Legal rights of access to justice (linked directly to air quality framework)
Legal coordination of policy to achieve AAQS
- Legal link between air quality standards and decision-making on projects
- Legally mandated policy coordination for air quality
Enforcement mechanisms
- Criminal
- Civil
- Administrative
- Bespoke enforcement mechanism
- Multi-level governance mechanism (eg EU Commission)
Provisions for transboundary air pollution
- Yes
Showing 21 - 30 of 118 resultsResolution CONAMA No. 491 establishing air quality standards.| 2018 |Regulation
BrazilThis Resolution establishes air quality standards. The resolution defines air quality standards for various atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and lead. The air quality standards will be implemented in four stages, with intermediate standards being adopted before the final standards are reached. The resolution also...
KeywordsAir quality standards, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Pollutants, Air pollution, Air quality, Particulate matter, Ozone, Air quality monitoring, Permitting, LegislationDecreto Núm. 104 - Norma primaria de calidad de aire para dióxido de azufre (SO2).| 2018 |Regulation
ChileLa presente norma primaria de calidad del aire tiene por objetivo proteger la salud de las personas de los efectos agudos y crónicos generados por la exposición a dióxido de azufre (SO2) en el aire. Se indican los niveles de emergencia ambiental de dióxido de azufre y la correspondiente metodología de medición.
KeywordsSulphur dioxide, Air quality index, Air qualityReglamento técnico ambiental de calidad del aire (2018)| 2018 |Regulation
Dominican RepublicKeywordsPM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Sulphur dioxide, PM2.5, Benzene, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Ammonia, Benzo(a)pyreneDecreto Supremo Nº 003-2017-MINAM ─ Aprueba Estándares de Calidad Ambiental (ECA) para Aire.| 2017 |Regulation
PeruEl presente Decreto Supremo aprueba los Estándares de Calidad Ambiental (ECA) para Aire, como referente obligatorio para el diseño y aplicación de los instrumentos de gestión ambiental a cargo de los titulares de actividades productivas, extractivas y de servicios; así como para aquellos parámetros que caracterizan las emisiones de las actividades productivas, extractivas y de servicios. El...
KeywordsPM10, Benzene, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, Carbon monoxideResolución Nº 2254 - Norma de calidad del aire ambiente.| 2017 |Regulation
ColombiaLa presente Resolución establece la norma de calidad del aire o nivel de inmisión y adopta disposiciones para la gestión del recurso aire en el territorio nacional, con el objeto de garantizar un ambiente sano y minimizar el riesgo sobre la salud humana que pueda ser causado por la exposición a los contaminantes en la atmósfera. La norma establece los niveles máximos permisibles a condiciones de...
Government Decree on air quality (No. 79 of 2017).| 2017 |Regulation
FinlandThe present Decree implements Directive 2008/50/EC and complements the Environmental Protection Act on matters related to air quality. Section 3 specifies the authorities' tasks in monitoring the quality of the air. Municipalities shall in their territories oversee the air quality in accordance with Section 143 of the Environmental Act. Industry, traffic and environmental centres shall have...
KeywordsAir quality, PM10, Nitrogen dioxide, Air quality monitoring, PM2.5, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur dioxide, Particulate matter, Nitrogen monoxide, Concentration-based standards, Concentrations, Ambient air, Benzene, Carbon monoxide, Ozone, Future standards, Pollutants, Elemental carbon, Organic carbon, Access to informationDecree amending and supplementing the Decree on limit values for levels and types of pollutants in ambient air and alert thresholds, deadlines for reaching limit values, tolerance margins for limit value, target values and long-term goals.| 2017 |Regulation
North MacedoniaThis amending Regulation establishes new criteria for managing air quality, focusing on alarm and information thresholds for PM10 concentrations. It introduces a definition of "stable weather conditions," updates section titles to address thresholds and deadlines, and mandates alerts when PM10 levels exceed limits for two consecutive days during stable weather. Emphasis is placed on systematic...
KeywordsConcentration-based standards, PM10, Concentrations, Alert thresholds, Pollutants, Ambient air, Future standards, Legislation, Air quality, Air quality monitoringRegulations No. 38 of 2017 on Ambient Air Quality (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air) (Amendments).| 2017 |Regulation
CyprusThese Regulations implementing European Commission Directive on the assessment of air quality, amend the Air Quality (Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air) Regulations, no. 111 of 2007. The amendments concern: environmental standards, focusing on chemical pollutants and their permissible limits; contaminants present in ambient air; level of...
KeywordsAmbient air, Benzo(a)pyrene, Legislation, Air quality, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Concentration-based standards, Concentrations, Pollutants, Industrial sources, Pollution abatement technologiesRegulations No. 37 of 2017 on the Quality of Atmospheric Air (Limit Values for Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides, Particulate Matter, Lead. Carbon Monoxide, Benzene and Ozone in Atmospheric Air) (Amendments).| 2017 |Regulation
CyprusThese Regulations, implementing provisions of the European Commission Directive no. 2015/1480 on assessment of ambient air quality, amend Air Quality (Limit Values for Sulpur Dioxine, Nitrogen Dioxine, Nitrogen Oxides, Oxides of nitrogen, Particulate Matter, Lead, Benzene, Carbon Monoxide and Ozone in Ambient Air) Regulations, no. 327 of 2010. Amendment concerns: updating of concentration limits...
KeywordsLegislation, Concentration-based standards, Nitrogen oxides, Particulate matter, Carbon monoxide, Benzene, Ambient air, Ozone, Air quality, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Pollutants, Air quality monitoring, Concentrations, Monitoring stations, Air pollutionOrder on assessment and management of air quality BEK no 1472 of 12/12/2017| 2017 |Regulation
DenmarkKeywordsAir quality, PM2.5, PM10, Zones, Zoning, Nitrogen dioxide, Air quality monitoring, Particulate matter, Nitrogen oxides, Ambient air, Carbon monoxide, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen monoxide, Benzene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Best available techniques, ConcentrationsPagination
- PM10 (20 μg/m3 annual mean)